Hello all,
I have a 2015 R1200GS LC with nearly 90k miles.
Last week I managed to drop it on wet grass after forgetting I was on road tyres rather than dual-sport tyres. Low-speed spill onto soft grass, but the rear subframe/tail section now appears noticeably twisted.
I’ve inspected the visible bolts and mounting points and I can’t see any cracks, broken paint, or obvious movement. The bike still rides normally and I’ve since done around 200 miles, including some light off-road, without any noticeable handling issues. Nothing appears to be touching the rear tyre.
My assumption is that the rear subframe itself has bent and the proper fix is probably to replace it with a used one. My concern is that any used rear frame for sale may have come from a crashed bike, so I’m not sure how wise that route is.
Has anyone here dealt with this before on an LC GS?
A few specific questions:
- Is the rear subframe usually repairable, or is replacement the sensible route?
- Can a mechanic/body shop safely bend it back into alignment?
- If it can be straightened, would the subframe need to come off the bike first?
- Are there any specific mounting points or cracks I should be checking before continuing to ride it?
Any advice appreciated.
I have a 2015 R1200GS LC with nearly 90k miles.
Last week I managed to drop it on wet grass after forgetting I was on road tyres rather than dual-sport tyres. Low-speed spill onto soft grass, but the rear subframe/tail section now appears noticeably twisted.
I’ve inspected the visible bolts and mounting points and I can’t see any cracks, broken paint, or obvious movement. The bike still rides normally and I’ve since done around 200 miles, including some light off-road, without any noticeable handling issues. Nothing appears to be touching the rear tyre.
My assumption is that the rear subframe itself has bent and the proper fix is probably to replace it with a used one. My concern is that any used rear frame for sale may have come from a crashed bike, so I’m not sure how wise that route is.
Has anyone here dealt with this before on an LC GS?
A few specific questions:
- Is the rear subframe usually repairable, or is replacement the sensible route?
- Can a mechanic/body shop safely bend it back into alignment?
- If it can be straightened, would the subframe need to come off the bike first?
- Are there any specific mounting points or cracks I should be checking before continuing to ride it?
Any advice appreciated.
Looks like it's taken a fair wack to get that twisted out of shape and I'd be amazed if the pannier rails hadn't also got bent in the process ? No idea if it's feasible to bend it back but might be worth giving a "trusted" 2nd hand retailer such as Motobins a call to see whether they've got any 2nd hand subframes in stock. 
